Why do we stay emotionally invested in a character we dislike

[Raksha]

What struck me most was how Holden kept calling everyone around him a phony, but never saw how hypocritical and unaware he was himself. He was awful at showing it, but you could tell he just wanted to connect and not be hurt again. Even if there was not much happening in the book, it was still captivating and unconventional. What do you think about Holden as a character? And what other characters did you find intriguing?

[axolotl]

The writing style adds a lot. He describes the world around him in great detail and with expressions that make the text seem relaxed, casual. Also, his feelings and worldview are especially complex and even profound.

[Christine]

I think there's certainly a little bit of Holden in all of us– I see it in myself. We know his behavior is hypocritical and judgmental, but it's relatable in that way as well. A character with no flaws doesn't make for a very good story. Unless you're Jesus Christ.

[Brian]

why? Because we know that the character is due for a well-intentioned transformation.

We become invested in the development in a character's arc because it justifies within ourselves that our own well-intentioned behavior that may be distorted or received poorly, in the eyes of our cohorts. Yet, it should not be the extent of our limitations.

Character growth is essential to way we mirror our own development, and the hope that even our own faults can be grounded as a required rite of passage towards personal fulfillment.